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Former Kano State Governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) vice-presidential candidate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has said state governors no longer wield the level of power they had when Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999.
Kwankwaso made the remarks during an exclusive interview with ARISE correspondent Adesuwa Giwa-Osagie for her Untold Stories Project.
Reflecting on the evolution of state governance over the years, the former governor said the influence of governors had diminished compared with what was obtainable at the beginning of the Fourth Republic.
“Governors are not in charge,” Kwankwaso said, while arguing that governors today have less authority than their counterparts in 1999.
He also spoke about the attitude of some governors after assuming office, saying winning an election can sometimes make them believe they no longer need to listen to others.
According to him, some governors arrive at the Government House with the mindset that they have “defeated everybody”, which can make them less receptive to advice.
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Kwankwaso also addressed the political disagreement between Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume.
He described the dispute between the two Benue politicians as “unfortunate and unnecessary”.
The NDC vice-presidential candidate also accused Alia of acting out of desperation in the disagreement, without providing further details in the remarks cited.
Kwankwaso’s comments come amid continuing debates over the distribution of powers between the Federal Government, states and local governments.
Issues such as security and local government autonomy have repeatedly highlighted the limits of governors’ authority under Nigeria’s federal structure.
